Climate Change: Myth or Threat CSS PMS Essays with Outlines

OUTLINE

1. Introduction 
2. Climate change is one of the most dangerous challenges humanity has ever faced.
3. Factors Accentuating this Threat
4. Rapid pace of industrialization 
5. The greenhouse effect
6. Burgeoning thermal power plants
7. The mushrooming population 
8. Unchecked growth of urbanization
9. Massive changes in the lifestyle of people
10. Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides
11. Uncontrolled and leapfrogging deforestation 
12. Grave Implications for the Globe i. Rise in the sea level 
13. Massive increase in extreme weather events 
14. Reduction in ozone layer 
15. Increase in health problems 
16. Emergence of water crisis 
17. The threat of food crisis 
18. Worsening energy crisis 
19. Grave impacts on wild life 
20. Impacts on Pakistan 
21. The Way Forward 
22. Conclusion

Climate Change - a Cataclysmic Threat to Humanity 

Climate change is one of the most difficult challenges humanity is faced with. It is, perhaps, the challenge which is posing a threat to the very existence of humanity. It is no longer figment of the scientific mind as many people considered it to be earlier. The last couple of years of the third millennium have seen many anomalies in the weather pattern which have made the climate change a crystal clear reality and confirmed its potential to deform the globe. For instance, extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, extreme rainfall and floods can be seen taking place in different parts of the world. These extreme events resulting from vagaries in the climate are no longer unusual events. Instead they have become a norm. The most tragic is the fact that these changes in climate are not nature born; rather they are the outcome of man's unrestricted activities. They have resulted from global industrial race among the countries. In order to meet the ever increasing energy demands of their population, many countries including the developed and developing ones, have increased the burning of fossil fuels, which subsequently has caused an unusual rise in global temperature. This constantly increasing temperature is now posing a grave threat to the globe. There is no denying the fact that it has potential to open the Pandora's box, causing cataclysmic effects around the world. On one hand, it has accelerated the melting of glaciers which is leading to gradual increase in the sea-level, thus posing a severe threat of submergence to many areas of the world; while, on the other, it has resulted in gradual decrease in the amount of inland water by increasing the rate of evaporation, causing unbearable harms to the agriculture sector. The reduced agricultural output in turn now poses a threat of unleashing the havoc of food crisis around the world. Briefly speaking, if the population around the world does not adapt to climate-induced changes, the menace of climate change may precipitate the waves of chaos throughout the world.

The threat of climate change has been nurtured not by a single factor; rather a host of factors are responsible for it. The most prominent among them is the rapid pace of industrialization. The second half of the 20th century has seen an unlimited increase in the number of industries and factories. These factories and industries have made enormous use of fossil fuels to ensure uninterrupted production, thus releasing tremendous amount of poisonous gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, benzene etc. which go up into the atmosphere and form a sort of blanket. This blanket allows the incoming solar radiation with short wavelength to enter the atmosphere, which is absorbed by both the oceans and landmasses. However, this radiation is back-radiated by the land. But the blanket of gases does not allow it to escape into the space. In this way, it gets trapped into the atmosphere, thus iucreasing the global temperature. This effect is known as the greenhouse Effect which is the prime force behind the emergence of climate change in the world.

Aside from industries, the power plants which depend on fossil fuel are also responsible for the threat of climate change. Unfortunately, the number of such plants is also leapfrogging. These plants make tremendous use of fossils to meet the power requirements. When burning of fossils occurs, it generates CO2. However, some gas particles in the fuel remain unburnt and these unburnt particles directly go into the atmosphere and cause great harm to the ozone layer which prevents the dangerous rays of sun from entering the globe. With the ozone depletion, the dangerous rays manage to enter the globe causing unusual rise in the temperature.

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Furthermore, the role of rapidly growing population of the world cannot be negated as far as the threat of climate change is concerned. Increase in population means increase in demand for electricity and other necessaries of life. In order to meet the burgeoning demands of the population, many countries have not only increased the installation of new industries and power plants but have also accelerated the pace of production of the old industries and power plants. This subsequently has resulted in increase in the global emissions of the greenhouse gases, causing unpredictable changes in the climate.

An equally responsible factor for climate change is urbanization. Not only are people shifting from rural areas to urban ones, rural areas are also getting transformed into cities. Urbanization, on one hand, increases the number of cemented houses which radiate more heat that that absorbed by them; while on the other, it also results in increase in wastes of cities which release poisonous gases into the atmosphere, causing the greenhouse effect.

Moreover, with the spread of urbanization, there have appeared massive changes in the life style of people. People of modern age seem to be bent upon making their life more and more luxurious. The increasing number of vehicles, massive use of ACs and refrigerators are the result of such sort of attitude. Vehicles release poisonous gases along with smoke. Besides, some vehicle have technical faults, due to which some fuel particles remain unburnt which rise into the atmosphere and increase the air pollution which is, no doubt, one of the predominant factors behind the emergence of climate change.

Furthermore, in order to meet the burgeoning food requirements of the huge population, new trends have emerged in the agriculture sector. For instance, the past century saw the birth of green revolution, which was nothing but excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides and aerial sprays in order to enhance the production of agriculture sector. Even in the current era, their use has increased so much that it now seems virtually impossible to think of agriculture without using fertilizers and pesticides. They contain poisonous chemicals which go up into the atmosphere and cause its degradation. In this way, they play destructive role as far as climate change is concerned.

Similarly, depletion of the forest resources of the world is also responsible for nurturing the menace of climate change. Deforestation, in other words, is on the rise. Undoubtedly, trees help greatly in reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere by absorbing it. However, due to large scale deforestation, the amount of CO2 is increasing in the environment, causing vagaries in the climate.

After having discussed these factors, it would be quite appropriate to take into account the impacts of climate change over the globe. The most horrible impact of climate change is that the sea level is gradually rising due to melting of glaciers and unusually heavy rains, posing threat of inundation to many areas. If the sea level rises to great extent, it would submerge the areas which are not situated at sufficient altitude from the sea-level. For instance, many islands and places like Alaska, Madagascar, the Maldives, and Bangladesh have a high degree of vulnerability in this regard.

Among the most horrible impacts of climate change are the ones appearing in the form of extreme weather events. There is no denying that extreme weather events like frequent wildfires, longer periods of droughts in some regions, increase in the number, duration and intensity of tropical storms, intense heat waves, and frequent rainfalls coupled with the large scale floods have not only added to the miseries of the masses across the world but have also confirmed the fact that the threat of climate change is real, looming large over the globe.

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Apart from extreme weather events, climate change has also led to alarming reduction in the ozone layer, due to which penetration of harmful rays of the sun into the atmosphere has increased, hence resulting in health issues for the masses across the world. Due to extreme weather events, people are not only confronted with the challenges like malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress, but their miseries have also been compounded by the issues like scarcity of clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter. Additionally, it has been seen that climate change has also increased the cost of health which is unbearable for the majority of the masses living in the developing countries. It would not be exaggeration to say that climate change has exacerbated the menace of poverty in many parts of the globe.

Similarly, climate change has also an overwhelming impact on the inland water resources. Due to increase in temperature, there occurs rapid evaporation of water which results in gradual decrease in volume of underground water. This is why underground water table has gone down to several metres in many parts of the world. Such alarming phenomenon has led to the emergence of water crisis in many parts of the world. The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that many countries are not only in the throes of drinking water scarcity, but they are also subject to the threat of desertification of many areas.

The menace of desertification coupled with reduced underground water has, undoubtedly, put agriculture in grave jeopardy. The fact that many third world countries have agriculture-based economies further exposes the alarming extent of the issue. It is beyond doubt that due to immense impacts of climate change, not only has agricultural yield decreased, giving rise to threat of food crisis across the world, especially developing countries, but the economic fabric is also under severe threat, given the fact that agriculture is the backbone of economies in the developing countries.

Apart from food crisis, climate change is also responsible for worsening the energy scenario in many countries, especially developing ones. It has been seen that owing to increased global temperature, people in many parts of the world are compelled to resort to excessive use of ACs and refrigerators. Needless to say, such enormous use has resulted in increased consumption of energy, hence, leading to energy crisis. The threat of energy crisis is further exacerbated by the climate change-induced water crisis, given the fact many developing countries rely heavily on hydro power for their energy requirements.

The dismal tale of climate change does not end here. It goes far ahead. Apart from human beings, its dire impacts are also experienced by the fauna. It has been seen that due to increased desertification, animal life in many parts of the world is on shrinking to dismal level. In other words, diversity of wildlife is at severe risk due to changing climate. The effects of desertification are further compounded by the climate change triggered frequent droughts, leading to the extinction of wildlife in many parts of the world.

Besides terrestrial life, the marine life is also under severe threat. Unsurprisingly, if global temperature rises to unusual levels, it will not only increase the temperature of the water, but also increase the rate of evaporation of water. The increased rate of evaporation may lead towards increased salinity of the water. Needless to say, the increased temperature and salinity of water will result in the destruction of habitats of the marine life, leading to the extinction of marine organisms.

As regards impacts on Pakistan, climate change with all its severity and unpredictability has become a hard reality for the country. Extreme weather events like droughts and heavy rainfall coupled with massive floods have become a norm rather than aberration. The fact that Pakistan is among the top ten most affected countries confirms the country's extreme vulnerability to the harsh impacts of climate change. If the country does not adapt to the reality of climate change, it may be subject to severe ramifications caused by extreme weather-related events in the future. As Pakistan is an agricultural Country, it is most vulnerable to climate change. In the wet season, agriculture remains under the severe threat of flooding due to disturbance in the dynamics of monsoon; while in the dry season, it is faced with the risk of droughts. The gradual decrease in the water table is another challenge, accentuating water crisis coupled with power crisis as the country also depends on hydel power plants for power requirements. Apart from power crisis, the country may also face grave impacts in the form of food crisis, given the fact that most of population depends on agriculture for their subsistence and that agriculture is the backbone of national economy. So, it would not be exaggeration to say that climate change poses an existential threat to Pakistan.

It is not possible for one country to combat the monster of climate change. Instead global approach is needed to counter it. Although the UN took initiative in 1997 by holding talks over the climate issue, and was able to make countries ensure reduction in the emissions of CO2 in the atmosphere. But the agreement expired in 2012. Similarly, Paris climate accord is a good initiative under the umbrella of the UN to combat the threat of climate change. There is a dire need, however, to counter the threat of climate change.

The following measures may go a long way in curtailing the threat of climate change: First of all, efforts should be made to realise the world the horrible effects related to climate change. This could be done through various ways like depiction of cataclysmic effects of climate change through documentary films. It will render great help make public conscious of the monster of climate change. When public awareness develops, it will force the government to join hands with one another against the defiant attitude of governments. Then, it will be easy for the UN to call them at the table and develop consensus among them over the strategy to be pursued to combat the climate change. In this way, the UN will be in better position to pursue agreements like Kyoto Protocol and Paris climate accord.

Besides, steps should be taken to propagate the usefulness of the renewable resources of energy. Countries should be encouraged to invest on large level in the renewable resources. They should be encouraged to establish industries which could manufacture the apparatus for the use of renewable resources. To be sure, such industries exist today, but unfortunately their number is so scanty that the apparatus like solar panels, wind turbines manufactured by them is much expensive. This is why many poor countries prefer cheap coal-fired power stations to wind turbines, solar panels and other things like that.

Moreover, there should be created global climate change fund in order to encourage the developing and poor countries to ensure reduction in the emissions of CO2. As most of the power stations in the poor countries and developing countries are coal-fired, it will be hard for them to shift from non-renewable resources to renewable ones. The creation of such fund will greatly facilitate such sort of shifting. Mere creation of such fund is not enough; its implementation should be ensured as well.

Besides, on local level, masses should be made aware of the threat of climate change. They should be persuaded to use the public transport instead of using personal vehicles for small distances. They should also be convinced of the usefulness of simple ways of life. Similarly, steps should be taken to enhance the preservation of forest resources. An effective check on the deforestation is extremely necessary to protect the plants. Moreover, the plantation of further forests should also be ensured in order to reduce the amount of CO2 in the environment.

All the discussion drives us to the conclusion that climate change is the most horrible threat to humanity. It is no longer just scientific speculation. The regular occurrences of extreme weather events like heavy floods, heat waves, wildfires, massive rainfall have not only proved that the threat is real, looming large over the globe, but also confirmed its potential to deform the globe. It not only poses threat of inundation to many areas but also threatens the availability of food, water, and energy in many areas of the world. The only way to combat this monster is to ensure a reduction in the emissions of carbon dioxide on global level. This could be done by developing awareness regarding climate change in the masses. The increased public awareness subsequently will spill over to the governments of different countries. Once, there is change in the attitude of governments, it would not be hard for the UN to produce Kyoto Protocol and Paris climate accord type agreements and global climate change fund for poor and developing countries to facilitate their shift from the non-renewable resources of energy to renewable ones. These steps will render tremendous help in reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide on the global level and thus counter the threat of climate change to the world.